LA Natives In Fashion | The Daily Truffle: The Los Angeles Social Diary | Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and the Malibu Colony

I Love You But … $39,000 for a back pack (like this one from Mary Kate & Ashely Olsen for example) is pretty redic …

by: Lauren Brokaw - August 5th, 2011 Filed under: FASHION, I Love You But, LA Natives in Fashion, Lauren Brokaw blog

Croc back pack LA Native's MK and A Olsen

And yes, there have been orders placed at Barney’s for this redic trendy item! If you MUST, buy a Birkin or Kelly for 9 grand or be smart and just get a nice classic Chanel for 3 grand. Oh, and in case you didn’t know, back packs are back. According to Ashley O, the $39,000 backpack from the Olsen twins’ luxury fashion line The Row was “the first thing that sold off the shelf.” She also noted ”During our last economic crisis in the U.S., the only thing that went up was Hermès … ” that’s why she decided it would work to design a pricey sac.

Tags: Ashley Olsen, Backpack, Bags, FASHION, Mary Kate Olsen, The Row

#LAalum Edition 1: Terry Richardson, Hollywood High

by: Lauren Brokaw - July 14th, 2011 Filed under: #LAalumni, L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion, Lauren Brokaw blog

Mr. Richardson, mild perv & photog extraordinaire: Hollywood High sophomore yearbook pic. But nobody’s really born in LA, right?

Click to Continue Reading

Tags: Famous LA Natives, LA natives, Los Angeles Natives, terry richardson

#LAnatives: Designer Kelly Bergin

by: Caroline M. Roman - December 17th, 2010 Filed under: L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion

As you know on The Daily Truffle, the only thing we like better than a cool L.A. Native is a cool, gorgeous, smart, funny, creative L.A. Native!! She has an exclusive coming up with Net-a-Porter in January with her Resort Collection — and Cameron Diaz & Rachel Bilson are fans!! We sat down with Kelly to get a few notes on fashion, designing and growing up in L.A.! Click to Continue Reading

Tags: LA natives, Los Angeles Natives

This is Major: New T-Shirts from Golden Rule L.A.

by: Caroline M. Roman - December 1st, 2010 Filed under: L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion

Slideshow:

Fullscreen:

I have fallen in love with these Ts! *They are also made by 3 friends of mine, L.A. Native sisters born and bred in Malibu with the likes of Chad Rogers, Brody Jenner and Caroline d’Amore. Niki, Stephanie and Danielle Shadrow (I called the youngest Baby Shad) have recently launched a line of Ts so cute, it’s kind of a big deal. A tea party look book can be found on their adorable website www.goldenrulela.com. We caught up with the three sisters to talk about growing up in Malibu, starting a T-shirt line and their style history throughout the years …

High School Memories with Niki, Stephanie and Danielle Shadrow:

Click to Continue Reading

Tags: Danielle Shadrow, LA natives, Los Angeles Natives, Niki Shadrow, Stephanie Shadrow

Emily Factor, lil sis to Dean & Davis, and youngest of the Max Factor legacy, puts out designs for fall 2010

by: Caroline - June 8th, 2010 Filed under: FASHION, LA Natives in Fashion, Los Angeles Natives & Royalty

Emily Factor fall 2010

If you’ve ever gone out for dinner, attended a party, been to a Laker’s game or golfed at the Brentwood Country Club, or basically left your house in general in any way at all, chances are you’ve met Davis and Dean Factor. The two brothers who creatored SmashBox Photo Studios and Cosmetics, are the elder brothers of my newest subject of interest: little sister and designer Emily Factor.

Emily Factor is adorable. Not always the most prominent quality you notice in budding L.A. fashion designers but none-the-less this native Angeleno, turned-Carmel-dweller, turned-L.A.-resident *(they always come back … ) is just that. Emily is the youngest of seven children whom are all the great-grandchildren of makeup legend Max Factor.

I caught up with her at Gower Studios where she showed her collection for fall 2010.

Emily first showed at L.A. Fashion Week in 2008, with a monkey, a wolf, and a snake to open the show. Also spotted were mermaids and oceanic creatures put into prints and fabrics. Her current line for fall 2010 can be viewed here: http://www.emilyfactor.com/EMILY_FACTOR/fall_show.html Click to Continue Reading

Tags: FASHION

#LAnatives: Kairi Scott and Jordan Rosen, founders of ShopLikeKings.com invite you to the launch party

by: Caroline - May 20th, 2010 Filed under: L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion, Los Angeles Social Diary

Kairi Scott (Beverly ’94) and Jordan Rosen (Beverly ’95) have come together to start the new online shopping site www.shoplikekings.com – this Saturday marks the launch of the site with at party at Kai’s store Kingsbury on 3rd Street from 2pm to 7pm this Sunday with Alan Maman (Beverly ’95) spinning, better known as The Alchemist. Here is my interview with my former Beverly buddies and Century City steps compatriots. Up to ‘the vents’! (inside LA joke) Click to Continue Reading

Tags: Bianca White, Jordan Rosen, Kairi Scott, LA natives, Launch Parties, Los Angeles Natives, The Alchemist

Toronto ♥ (Loves!) LA native designers Nicole Richie and Kimberly Ovitz

by: Lauren Brokaw - April 9th, 2010 Filed under: FASHION, L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion, Lauren Brokaw blog

During my recent trip to Toronto, I couldn’t help but notice that Nicole Richie’s design houses, House of Harlow & Winter Kate, and Kimberly Ovitz’s line were everywhere… much more so than in LA. The second floor of Holt Renfrew was largely stocked with these two ladies designs, as was TNT over at Hazleton Lanes. I LOVE that they LOVE LA native designers! My two quick notes on Nicole’s lines:

♥How cute that Nicole named both lines after her daughter, Harlow Winter Kate Madden !

♥I love how she ACTUALLY wears the things she designs. How many celebs turned designers in this world create lines just for the money and aren’t involved in any of the process at all, let alone wear their own stuff!

kimberly-ovitz-chloe-sevigny-alexis-bledel

Chloe Sevigny, Alexis Bledel, et moi in Kimberly's 'Jacob' Dress

Tags: Famous LA Natives, Holt Renfrew, House of Harlow, Kimberly Ovitz, LA natives, Los Angeles Natives, nicole richie, Toronto, Winter Kate

#LAnatives: designer Jenni Kayne

by: Caroline - April 7th, 2010 Filed under: FASHION, L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion, New in L.A., New Stores in LA

L.A. Native designer Jenni Kayne (Crossroads) who runs and designs the label and West Hollywood store Jenni Kayne, has teamed up with sunglass Benjamin through April 15th sell his latest shades, inspired by Hells Angels, David Lynch’s film noir Mulholland Drive and The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jone, through her Almont store off Melrose.

Benjamin has made two pairs in her namesake, one called Jenni and the other called Kayne. Each piece in his collection has been 100% hand made by artisans in the city of Fukui, Japan.

This is Benjamin Montoya’s, who has been a staple among fashion insiders for over a decade, first affordable line and is available only at the Jenni Kayne boutique. Click to Continue Reading

Tags: Jenni Kayne, LA natives, Los Angeles Natives, Maggie Kayne, Shopping in LA

The family behind Forever 21 has two daughters! And they are L.A. Natives from Harvard-Westlake! Meet Esther & Linda Chang!

by: Caroline - April 4th, 2010 Filed under: FASHION, L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion

The empresses of Forever 21 are on the front page of the Image section in the L.A. Times today – go read about these two sisters. Both girls went to TWO of my alma maters Harvard-Westlake and Buckley. I still have one question for them … why is everything priced the $2.80, $12.80 and $22.80??? Everything’s something dollars and 80 cents.

The Younger Sister ~ Esther Chang, 23

High School?
Harvard-Westlake and Buckley

College?
Cornell University, merchandising

Current role at F21?
Esther “spearheads” visuals

Previous Jobs?
CosmoGirl and Nordstrom

Lives?
at home The Older Sister ~ Linda Chang

High School?
Harvard-Westlake and Buckley

College?
PENN, management

Current role at F21?
Linda “runs” marketing department

Previous Jobs?
Merrill Lynch, Pottery Barn

Lives??
in Hollywood

Note: read the Forever 21 blog called the Skinny! its cuteeeeee

All per Los Angeles Times and Booth Moore

Tags: Esther Chang, Famous LA Natives, Forever 21, LA natives, Linda Chang, Los Angeles Natives

#LAnatives: Designer Kimberly Ovitz (Brentwood ’01) & her Spring 2010 Collection

by: Caroline - March 31st, 2010 Filed under: FASHION, L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion

Family friend Martin Scorsese shows support at Kim

Kim Ovitz

I got an email from Liz Keene at Harrison & Shriftman last fall inviting me to a private sale for designer Kimberly Ovitz who was literally handing some of her best pieces for next to nothing, as designers often do when they have extra sizes and cuts that weren’t not sold to retail stores. The clothes = amazing! My friend bought a gorgeous white tube dress and we oooh and ahhhed over the layered fabrics on jackets, dresses and vests, and the dead-on cool, casual, comfy, perfectly L.A. attire on rack after rack.

I didn’t need to hear her name to know we were dealing with an L.A. native.

As an Angeleno native hunter, I recognized the name immediately as an being alumni from one of my alma mattas - John Thomas Dye. But that’s not where her L.A. pedigree ends … She is also the daughter of Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz, whom she tells me was instrumental in her early dedication to working and mastering all angles of the business in her industry.

An equestrian since the age of 9, she took all sorts of jobs as early as 14, with J. Crew, Herb Ritz, W Magazine, Chanel and another of our favorite L.A. native’s Yael Aflalo (Beverly ’95) who had a line called “Ya Ya” at the time. An art history degree from Brown backs her solid industry experience and from her father, Kimberly also learned valuable business management skills and inherited his incredible passion for all the arts – from performance to photography, sculpture to painting.

For her Spring 2010 Presentation, held at Mac Milk Studios in New York, Martin Scorsese, a good family friend, attended to show support for her third season. Her fourth season – Fall 2010 – has already made it’s way through New York Fashion week with a strong presentation this past February.

Kim grew up riding English and competing for 10 years in hunters and jumpers and this is the main source of inspiration of her work, following along in the lines of other equestrian themed greats like Hermès, Gucci and Donghia Leather.

Kim had two horses forever until she sold them a few years ago, though she still tries to ride as often as she can and visits her mother’s ranch in Ojai, CA often for inspiration ~ in fact this is the site of where her spring 2010 lookbook was shot (see photos below)!

The best selling item this season so far has been Kim’s Valmore cut out dress, which you can buy from Net-a-Porter online here. Kimberly Ovitz on Net-a-Porter

As a fellow L.A. native, we also asked Kim a few basics we ask all our fellow L.A. school alumni friends …

1. What L.A. schools did you attend?

JOHN THOMAS DYE ELEMENTARY & BRENTWOOD SCHOOL ‘ 01

2. Favorite high school memory

ALL THE PHASES OF STYLE I WENT THROUGH FROM 7 TO 12 GRADE.

3. Favorite thing about growing up in L.A.

HAVING THE OCEAN, MOUNTAINS, AND DESSERT AT YOUR FINGER TIPS AND OF COURSE THE WEATHER.

4. Favorite place to have meetings in L.A.

BLUE PLATE

5. Favorite place to have dinner in L.A.

GIORGIO BALDI

Sold in Neiman Marcus, Curve, Satine, Madison in Malibu.

The location used for Kim's look book are at her moms ranch in Ojai, CA

The location used for Kim's look book are at her moms ranch in Ojai, CA

Kimberly Ovitz spring / summer 2010

Kimberly Ovitz spring / summer 2010

Kim

Tags: CAA, Chanel, Collages, Disney, FASHION, Harvard-Westlake, Herb Ritz, J. Crew, John Thomas Dye, Kimberly Ovitz, LA natives, Los Angeles Natives, Martin Scorsese, Michael Ovitz, W Magazine

L.A. Natives You Ought to Know: Elliot Hans Johnson of Literature Noir and his Dirty, haunted castle party this weekend

by: Caroline - August 31st, 2009 Filed under: FASHION, L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion, New in L.A., New Stores in LA, Shopping in LA

Elliot Hans Johnson (Landmark ’98) is my cousin by marriage (my father’s fourth marriage), friend of the Truffle, and married to gorgeous, Turkish socialite Burcak Kaya Johnson. Together they design Literature Noir clothing.

Elliot broke into fashion at his father’s (my step-uncle) prom dress company LA-Glo. Years later he formed Morphine Generation with friends, though went their separate ways some time later.

He sold his share in order to create Literature Noir. Kaya hails from Istanbul but did most of her living and studying
of fashion design in London. She now practices her creativity and free thought developing Literature Noir in L.A.

The two are on the cusp again this season, beating everyone else to the punch with an early fall kick off for fashion week. Tomorrow night Literature Noir will celebrate founder Elliot Hans Johnson’s 30th birthday at an “old, dirty castle” (his words, not mine) underneath the Hollywood sign. Kissing booths, jugglers and a magician will play backdrop to their fall fashion preview, and Elliot’s 30th birthday!

I was ecstatic to hear he was starting Literature Noir with his wife as that was sure to mean womenswear!

Kaya resembles Audrey Hepburn with an Eastern European touch. She has an effortlessly chic look that perfectly matches Elliot “come here, go away” motif. They gave each other black diamonds as wedding rings and have a guest room in their West Hollywood home completely filled with saved Hermes boxes, they call it the “orange room”.

In 2007 Womens Wear Daily (WWD) named Elliot Hans and Kaya B. “Designers to Watch in Los Angeles” after seeing their “Goth-meets-rococo collection … informed by the time they spend in London and Instanbul.”

Their celebrity clientele include Marilyn Manson, Paris Hilton, Jessica Alba and Pete Wentz. The clothes are available at Kitson, H. Lorenzo, Theodore and Planet Blue.

Elliot Hans

Kaya B.

As for the “dirty, old castle” party for the fall preview and Elliot’s birthday … a shuttle took guests from a parking lot on Hollywood and Vine where the check in was set up. I brought along my two little ex-step sisters (from my father’s third marriage).

Magician Christopher Wonder performs at Elliot Hans Johnson’s birthday

Burcek Johnson aka Kaya B. and Elliot Hans Johnson, partners in business and marriage

Magician Christopher Wonder

Me with the little sisters Brittany Aaroff and Morgan Aaroff

Magician Chris Wonder’s finale

Elliot and Burcek

Elliot at the castle the morning after …

Tags: Elliot Hans Johnson, Elliot Johnson, FASHION, LA natives, Literature Noir, shopping, Shopping in LA

Darren Romanelli (Brentwood '94) aka Dr. Romanelli x Hello Kitty x Medicom

by: Caroline - August 17th, 2009 Filed under: Culture, L.A. Natives, LA Natives in Fashion, Men's blog

The doctor strikes again! Darren Romanelli (Brentwood ’94), better known today as Dr. Romanelli has made an artistic name for himself re-purposing famous childhood icons into modern revivals with a new twist. His particular penchant towards the medical practice is a reoccurring them (*see his Looney Tunes series).

The latest victim? Hello Kitty. Dr. Romanelli has gotten together with Sanrio for a special Hello Kitty collaboration produced by Medicom Toy. The project between the three companies includes three styles of DRx/HelloKitty figures in addition to a capsule apparel collection. The inspiration for the collection stems from the good doctors fascination with medical science. Welcome to the inner exploration of Kitty’s anatomy. You can keep up with Darren at his blog: http://blog.drromanelli.com/